About this Vegeterianism/Veganism Bullshit

[Mehdi]

I'm enjoying the comments posted in this week's article
Several "pro bloggers" are all hyped about vegeteranism & veganism, as if it was the key to health. Steve pavlina is (was?) a vegan, leo from zen habits is also vegeterian. Leo posted his 12-step program for eating healthier this week. I respect Leo's blog & achievements, but this wasn't a 12 step to be healthier, it's a 12 step to become vegeterian/vegan. Some of his tips:

• Whole grain bread/cereal. Bread & cereal are processed food, which contain crap like corn syrup. Better is making your own bread, but even then whole grains are problem for a lot of people: glute allergy for example.


• Cut out red meat. You need cholesterol & saturated fat for healthy testosterone levels.


• Soymilk. Soy is unhealthy: estrogen, allergies, ...

A lot of bloggers lack dietary experience (on top of knowledge) to understand what they're talking about. It seems like to them, healthy equals a low body fat. Healthy is more than a low body fat. Being healthy is:

• Testosterone. energy, libido, muscle mass, body fat, etc... Testosterone improves all. Nature is full of estrogen: water, plastics, foods like soy/alchol, etc. Cutting saturated fat & cholesterol out of your diet futher lowers your testosterone levels. Btw, testosterone is also good for females, not only for males.


• Energy. Vegeterian/vegan diets are high in carbs. A lot of people are carb sensitive.


• Fertility/libido. Low sperm count, viagra, low libido,... same people usually have low testosterone levels.


• Allergies. Digestion problems like lactose intolerance, skin problems like acne, eczema, rashes,... Soy beans, wheat, gluten, milk, dairy... all of that is highly present in vegeterian/vegan diets.


• Strength, endurance. All of that is also part of your health. you need food, especially protein for sports.


• Injuries, posture. Daily pain caused by bad posture, also health.

Some of the reasons they give to become a vegeterian/vegan:

• Healthier. It's not, check above. I put veganism on par with atkins: very unhealthy diet. Fruits & veggies are good, but you need more than that.


• Saturated Fat. Dietary cholesterol is not bound to blood cholesterol. the problem is mixing high fat with high carbs. Everything becomes poison when you overdo it, even water.


• Peer reviews. Guess who pays for these peer reviews: the soy/milk/whatever industry. This is business in the first place. Conspiracy theorists believe this whole scam of pushing people to eat soy & cutting out meat, is to get them infertile in order to control world population.


• Natural. First tools men made were for killing animals, paintings from animals in caves, digestion system of humans, etc... Men are made to eat meat.


• Dead Animal/Religion. That I respect. I don't have problems with eating dead animals, even kill it. My parents & grand parents used to raise animals, we weren't farmers but just like quality meat. Veggeterians & vegans are right about animals being mistreated, that's why we did it ourselves.  Nobody wants to eat animals that were mistreated, add to that all the hormones they get, the grains they are feeded instead of grass, sick animals you're sold, etc. But, humans are on top of the food chain. I have a dog, german shepherd, 13y old and in very good health. He gets the bone, I eat the steak. I sleep inside, he sleeps in the garage. Some people treat animals better than humans. Animals are there to be eaten.

 
 

[Mehdi]

The closer you eat to how your ancestors ate, the better. Skipping all processed food is a good start. Some say you should eat foods from the continent you originate from. Like European guys shouldn't eat bananas but apples. African people can eat bananas, but no apples.
Much of this is a personal issue. Big rules are the same for everyone, but you need to learn yourself. You might like bread, but your body might be allergic to the wheat. You might hate dead animal meat, but do you care about lower testosterone levels? do the test btw: blood test, 3 months high meat diet, check blood again.
I'm going to prepare one or more articles on this vegeterianism/veganism bullshit. Because it's bullshit advising this as healthier to people. If you don't want to eat dead animals or your religion says so, no problem, I respect that. But all health reasons given for it are as wrong as your doctor saying you shouldn't Squat below parallel.

[Kyle]

EXACTLY, I was gonna post this in the "blacklist topic" (the 12 step post)

[jdurando]

Great Post Mehdi - Its all about what works best for the individual. I had been a strict ORGANIC vegan for a few years myself, didnt do me much good, matter of fact I think it may have contributed to an issue with my blood chemistry, may be correcting itself now that I have made the return to my bodys original omnivor design.
 

[jdurando]

Kyle - I thought of you when I first started reading it.

[phillipsjosh2415]

I have a dog, german shepherd, 13y old and in very good health. He gets the bone, I eat the steak. I sleep inside, he sleeps in the garage. Some people treat animals better than humans. Animals are there to be eaten. 

To that I give a hearty AMEN!!  I have always believed this.  I have seen people treat their kids like garbage, smacking, slapping, yelling, and cussing them, but they turn right around and kiss and smooch all over their little dog.  They treat their animals (pets) like gold and their own family like garbage.  I believe in treating animals right, but they're animals, not humans.  So many people get this turned around. 
About eating animals I got a kick out of a couple bumper stickers I've read lately. 
PETA - People for the Eating of Tasty Animals
My favorite one said:
I LOVE ANIMALS  (They're delicious!!)
I get a kick out of this stuff. 
It took a lot of guts to write this article, Mehdi.  I appreciate that you did though.

[elisa]

I can't eat wheat because I'm a celiac. (basically dangerous for me) but part of the problem is that the wheat we grow today is not the same wheat of centuries ago. We have modified our wheat to be lighter, fluffier and it has way more gluten than in the past. Wheat used to be more like a grass. IMHO it could be why we hare having such a surge of those who can't eat wheat (gluten) when it used to be such a staple of our diets. I feel much better when eating meat. A meal without meat and I fall on my face. Soy - don't even go there. Do a quick search on "the dangers of soy" you will be blown away.

[Parth]

Some of you have been helping me with my diet. Although I do believe that Vegetarianism is a better lifestyle than eating meat, there is no doubt difficulties in living the lifestyle, especially in America. I've been cutting down on the consumption of Indian food, and now believe that an Indian diet is not vital for long-term health and maintenance of muscle mass or bone strength. I believe that in both sense, there are problems if you don't eat right. I think we can just drop the subject there. The two things that plague many Indians is diabetes and high blood pressure. These two diseases are preventable with proper diet. Not sure about the testosterone thing, and I've heard both good and bad things about soy. Moderation is key.

I don't think it's right to call vegetarianism "bullshit." If you don't think it's good for health, then fine it's not good for health. That's your decision to make. I don't think eating meat is natural for human beings. You guys don't think that not eating meat is natural for human beings. I am a Vegetarian more because that's how I grew up rather than ethical or religious reasons. I do agree that people need to treat each other better before we start talking about the ethical treatment of animals. I've detached myself from PETA three years ago and all other animal rights movements. This is coming from a guy who used to be the president of the Animal Rights club at his school. I've learnt how to eat a high-protein diet and still be vegetarian. All that matters is I make progress and I eat clean. No need to call anything "bullshit."

[jdurando]

@Parth -
I think that you need to take a closer look at Mehdi's post and your response. Mehdi's post was more a direct rebuttal against Leo's post about eating healthier and equating that to a tranformation into vegetarianism.
Your background - being raised vegetarian more than likely stems from religous and cultural beliefs from India - what is one of the most sacred animals in India - a cow, In India there are many animals tied to dieties - Ganesha - an elephant, Rats, Mice.
 
 

[ThePope]

"I don't think eating meat is natural for human beings."
Check your teeth, you have teeth for eating meat and teeth for eating plants. Human Beings are omnivores.

[Parth]

jDurando - so you're saying that "bullshit" is referring to the post and idea of turning vegetarian for health purposes only. That's fine by me.

I think a non-veg will only turn veg if he wants to and a veg will turn non-veg only if he wants to. I've seen converts from both sides.

ThePope - That's no what I mean by being natural. Imagine beleving in one thing and acting one way for the majority of your life. That's what you will beleive to be natural. Learning or beleiving in something else would be out of the question.

I've seen studies about how the digestive tract was not meant to handle flesh. But I'm not running around with pages in my hand trying to make people believe one way or saying that eating meat is bullshit.

I agree that maybe I misinterpreted mehdi's first post. However the mere fact that Vegetarianism and a word like "bullshit" is in the same sentence would make someone feel immediately biased when reading a post. The intention of the poster would be blurred. If it was a response to a another post on another site, which I have not looked at yet (I will though after this), then I think it could have been done without using the word "bullshit."

[Mouse]

Hey guys - there's iron to lift - let's leave this alone and workout !!!!!!!

[jeet49]

 
Parth
I don't agree with you on Indian diet. It also depends on where you was raised. I am a North Indian and I can proudly say that Indian diet is not low by any standards. It involves everything - wheat, lentils, beans, non-veg, egss, milk, peas, fruits, etc. Read this article on man being a veg. Yes, since I moved to US I have increased my non-veg consumption as compared to what I used to eat in India.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kosloff15.htm
 
Mehdi,
I am a big fan of Vince Gironda & appreciate your efforts, specially 5x5 program. I found this site after browsing bodybuilding, t-nation, johnfitness & many others and this site is on top of my bookmarks I am on 2nd week of 5x5 program. Will soon post my training log.
Cheers!

[jdurando]

@ jeet - I wanted to say something on that earlier but held back - not wanting to be thought of as an ass (being that I am not from India), Thanks for making that point.

[Mouse]

Hey guys - there's iron to lift - let's leave this alone and workout !!!!!!!

 
Don't lose time trying to win arguments, it doesn't matter. You get stronger at the gym, not on the internet. - FORUM RULES